Arapaima in 75 gal

[Plec123]

His point is not that we shouldn't, it's that we accept compromises to the animals life and habits for our own agendas (in this case because we like fish).

Stunting fish is unfortunately a part of the monster aquarium hobby, I don't see a pile of PETA-esque protesters in the Other Monsters section complaining that no one's Hydrolycus grow anywhere near natural size...

you have a good point. but, you must admit that we are providing the best invoronment that we can, and not purposely stunting our fish. im sure any of out ATF keepers would jump at the chance of getting a free, monster high current pond just for their ATF.

 

[krichardson]

I'm gone go against the grain here and say yes, it will be totally fine...although the 'paima will likely end up wearing the tank as a helmet...

LOL.

 

[SimonL]

you have a good point. but, you must admit that we are providing the best invoronment that we can, and not purposely stunting our fish. im sure any of out ATF keepers would jump at the chance of getting a free, monster high current pond just for their ATF.

But that's the exact issue! It's not convenient because of space and cost to build a giant 20'x6' tank to keep them in...so we sacrifice part of the animals well being for ease of care. And if you know the animal isn't going to grow it's full size, you are doing it purposefully, even if you feel bad about it. Same as you know it's not going to breed, which means you are removing the animal's chance to fulfil it's most important biological function...

I do this too, don't get me wrong lol...it's just strikes me as funny that people will argue about stunting a fish being wrong, yet own dogs that have had their tails docked, eat de-beaked chickens from cramped cages, etc...

AND to add further fuel to the fire, "stunting" do to space and food availability is quite natural...look at the growth rates for Australian Murray Cod in small rivers versus large water bodies....

Wow, OP, you started a morality debate!!!! However.... the helmet comment was awesome!!!!

Damn straight, you won't even need a tank! Just hook up a Fx5 and pour water on the body sporadically...

 

[MadRussian79]

With the exception of a few people on here with mega tanks (only two private tanks come to mind) I'm not sure anyone should be keeping Pimas. I'd love to keep one but until I can afford to flood the garage I'm waiting.

 

[zpetrichko]

i feel as though there may be some trolls lurking about. I saw a piece on aropaimas on the show river monsters, fantastic show. If i had the money i'd love to have one but its really not conventional or plausible.

 

[MadRussian79]

i feel as though there may be some trolls lurking about. I saw a piece on aropaimas on the show river monsters, fantastic show. If i had the money i'd love to have one but its really not conventional or plausible.

Unfortunately many of us have seen enough horrid set ups not to assume this is a troll.

 

[SimonL]

Pimas are for some reason a MFK taboo...a pima is no more deserving of space than an ATF, sabretooth barracuda, ID shark, Paroon shark, goldfish, etc...all of which are regularly kept and stunted by MFKers.

And those two tanks, as well as Zoodiver's gigantic public aquarium habitats, still compromise the animal's ability to reproduce...

Unfortunately many of us have seen enough horrid set ups not to assume this is a troll.

Sad but true...10+ year old, 12" Paroon shark in a 30 gallon...looked like it had risen from the dead in zombie form....

 

[ceeej31]

Pimas are for some reason a MFK taboo...a pima is no more deserving of space than an ATF, sabretooth barracuda, ID shark, Paroon shark, goldfish, etc...all of which are regularly kept and stunted by MFKers.

And those two tanks, as well as Zoodiver's gigantic public aquarium habitats, still compromise the animal's ability to reproduce...



Sad but true...10+ year old, 12" Paroon shark in a 30 gallon...looked like it had risen from the dead in zombie form....

i seem to recall zoodiver saying he had observed breeding behavior with some of his pimas

 

[MadRussian79]

Got go with you on this one. The most mistreated species of fish in the hobby is the poor goldfish. At least most of the real heavy hitter are priced out of the "Mommy I want " epidemic. Goldfish suffer the brunt of that one.

 

[SimonL]

i seem to recall zoodiver saying he had observed breeding behavior with some of his pimas

Breeding is different than displaying precursory behaviour...but I'm sure he'll chime in eventually. I'd be surprised as you think there would be a video floating around somewhere...It's been done outside South America in Germany and Thailand, but in ponds as far as I recall...

EDIT: Here's the breeding link http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=130408